Plant named &#39;wp08 nik03&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘WP08 NIK03’ that is characterized by extremely compact habit and early-blooming large fully double magenta-colored flowers. In combination these traits set ‘WP08 NIK03’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Dianthus  known to the inventor.

GENUS

DIANTHUS

SPECIES

×hybrida

DENOMINATION

‘WP08 NIK03’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(f)of the application for a grant of European Community Plant BreedersRights which was filed for the instant plant variety on Jun. 30, 2008,Application Number 2008/1508.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hardygarden pink or carnation that is grown for use as a flowering plant forpots and containers and for planting in the garden or landscape. The newcultivar is known botanically as Dianthus×hybrida and will be referredto hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘WP08 NIK03’.

‘WP08 NIK03’ is a complex hybrid plant that is the product of a breedingprogram started by the inventor in 1985. The breeding program isconducted in a cultivated area of Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon, UnitedKingdom. The inventor selected ‘WP08 NIK03’ in 2003 for its extremelycompact habit and its early-blooming large fully double magenta-coloredflowers.

‘WP08 NIK03’ resulted from the controlled pollination between twounreleased and unpatented varieties, namely Dianthus code number ASH21as female parent plant and Dianthus code number 99.24 as male parentplant.

‘WP08 NIK03’ is distinguishable from the female parent as follows: Thefemale parent has semi-double carmine flowers.

‘WP08 NIK03’ is distinguishable from the male parent as follows: Themale parent is taller in height and bears only single flowers which arecolored pink.

The variety of Dianthus which is considered by the inventor to mostclosely resemble ‘WP08 NIK03’ is the inventor's variety Dianthus ‘DEVONPP11’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,919). ‘WP08 NIK03’ is distinguishable from‘DEVON PP11’ as follows: ‘WP08 NIK03’ is shorter than ‘DEVON PP11’ whoseflowers are semi-double and lavender colored.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theinventor in 2003 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, United Kingdom. Themethod of asexual propagation used was vegetative cuttings. Since thattime the characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stableand are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘WP08 NIK03’. These traitsin combination distinguish this cultivar from all other commercialvarieties known to the inventor. ‘WP08 NIK03’ has not been tested underall possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions, however,without any variance in genotype.

1. Dianthus ‘WP08 NIK03’ exhibits an extremely compact habit. At 9months of age, the height of the foliage mound of Dianthus ‘WP08 NIK03’is 10 cm to 14 cm, and the width of the plant is 13 cm to 15 cm.

2. Dianthus ‘WP08 NIK03’ blooms early and profusely from March untilOctober.

3. Dianthus ‘WP08 NIK03’ bears fully double magenta colored flowers.

4. Dianthus ‘WP08 NIK03’ exhibits grey-green foliage.

5. Dianthus ‘WP08 NIK03’ is perennial and is hardy to −15° C.

6. Dianthus ‘WP08 NIK03’ is suitable for use as a flowering plant inpots and containers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dianthus variety ‘WP08 NIK03’ showing colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘WP08 NIK03’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 depicts an entire flowering plant.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the flower.

All drawings were made of 9 months old plants which have been grown in1.5-litre containers in a cold glasshouse in Devon, United Kingdom. Nochemicals were used to treat the plants. All drawings were made usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possibleby conventional photography.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘WP08NIK03’. Data was collected in spring from 1.5-litre container plants inspring, and grown indoors in Devon, United Kingdom. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2007 edition of The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The colors of stems, leaves, calyx, and epicalyxhave been noted on plants which retain the characteristic waxy bloom ofDianthus. No chemicals were used to treat the plants. Growing conditionsare typical to other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification:    -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.        -   Genus.—Dianthus.        -   Species.—×allwoodii.        -   Denomination.—‘WP08 NIK03’.-   Parentage: A complex Dianthus hybrid whose immediate parents are    unreleased hybrids from the inventor's breeding program, identified    as follows:    -   -   Male parent.—Selection 99.24.        -   Female parent.—Selection ASH21.-   Plant type: Flowering perennial.-   Use of plant: As a flowering plant in containers, window boxes,    planters, pots and the garden.-   Bloom period: March-October.-   Plant habit: A compact mound with many branches and stems upright-   Height of plant: 10 to 14 cm after 9 months-   Width of plant: 13 to 15 cm after 9 months-   Hardiness: Has survived in temperatures of minus 15 Centigrade,    equivalent to USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Further hardiness trials    continue and may indicate even greater cold tolerance.-   Type: Perennial herb.-   Root system: Many fibrous roots.-   Propagation method: By vegetative stem cuttings.-   Cultural requirements: Grow in full sun, in well drained and    moderately fertile soil, keep well fertilized and watered.-   Diseases and pests: No particular resistance or susceptibility to    Dianthus diseases and pests are known to the inventor-   Time to root cuttings: 5 weeks is required to produce roots on a    vegetative cutting.-   Temperature for rooting: A minimum of 15° C. air temperature and    21° C. base temperature at root level is required to produce roots    on the cuttings.-   Facilities for rooting: A mist propagation unit is required for    satisfactory rooting of cuttings.-   Crop time: 3 months starting in the Spring and 6 months in the Fall-   Plant stem:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Height.—5 to 7 cm.        -   Diameter.—2 to 3 mm.        -   Surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.        -   Color.—145C to 145D.        -   Branching.—Numerous shoots from the axils of the lower            leaves.        -   Internode length (between nodes).—8 to 12 mm.-   Node:    -   -   Diameter.—2 to 3 mm.        -   Length.—2 mm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Shape.—Linear, straight.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Decurrent.        -   Venation.—Not prominent.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite and spiraling on stem.        -   Attachment.—Sheathing.        -   Surface adaxial.—Glaucous.        -   Surface abaxial.—Glaucous.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Dimensions.—Length: 55 mm to 65 mm Width: 6 mm to 7 mm.        -   Color.—Adaxial surface: N138B Abaxial surface: N138C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower stem dimension.—Length: 10 cm to 12 cm Width: 2 mm to            4 mm Stem strength: Erect Stem color: 189B.        -   Type.—Cymose.        -   Form.—Salviform, symmetrical.        -   Development.—Singly, in sequence from the uppermost bud.-   Buds:    -   -   Color.—191B.        -   Dimensions.—15 mm in length and 9 mm in width.        -   Shape.—Cylindrical.-   Flowers:    -   -   Number.—4 to 6 per stem.        -   Dimensions.—Length (including calyx): 30 mm to 35 mm            Diameter: 40 mm to 48 mm.        -   Flower shape.—Circular.        -   Flower profile.—Concave to convex.        -   Lastingness.—10 days at 20° C., on or off the plant.        -   Fragrance.—Slight.        -   Flowering period.—March to October (unforced).-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape (upper part of corolla).—Convex.        -   Shape (lower part of corolla).—Concave.        -   Petal arrangement.—Persistent, double, overlapping.        -   Petal margin.—Crenate to dentate.        -   Indentation.—0 mm to 1 mm deep.        -   Petal texture.—Soft.        -   Flower type.—Double.        -   Petal number.—30 to 40 with a further 15 to 20 petaloid            stamens.        -   Petal dimension.—Length: 32 mm to 34 mm Width: 20 mm to 22            mm.        -   Color pattern.—Uniform self-colored throughout.        -   Color of upper surface.—Ground color of blade: 61C to 64C            Color of middle of strap (basal attachment): 145C Color of            base of strap: 145D.        -   Color of lower surface.—Ground color of blade: 64C Color of            middle of strap: 145C Color of base of strap: 145D.        -   Petal shape.—Obovoid.        -   Petal surface.—Glabrous and undulating.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Longitudinal profile.—Convex.        -   Dimensions.—Length: 16 to 19 mm Diameter: 10 to 12 mm.        -   Sepals.—Fused.        -   Sepals number.—5.        -   Sepals color.—N138B on the top and 145B on the base.        -   Anthocyanin.—Present, evident in edges of lobes and whole            calyx.        -   Splitting.—Yes.-   Epicalyx:    -   -   Bracts number.—1 pair of 2.        -   Shape of outer lobe.—Acute.        -   Dimensions.—Width: 7 mm Length: 8 mm.        -   Color.—N138A at apex, 142C elsewhere.        -   Anthocyanin.—Present, but absent at apex.-   Bracteoles:    -   -   Number.—1 pair of 2.        -   Dimensions.—Width: 8 mm Length: 8 mm.        -   Color.—N138A at apex, 142C elsewhere.        -   Anthocyanin.—Present, but absent at apex.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 10 to 15, with additional 15 to 20 petaloid            or deformed stamens. Color of filaments: White Dimensions:            Length: 18 to 24 mm Diameter: 0.5 mm.        -   Anthers.—Number: 10 to 15 Color: 84C Dimensions: Length: 3            mm Diameter: 2 mm Attachment: Basifixed.        -   Pollen.—Present occasionally.        -   Pollen color.—157A.        -   Style.—Number: 2 Color: N66D.        -   Dimensions (style and stigma).—Length: 19 to 20 mm Width:            0.5 to 1 mm.        -   Stigma.—Number: 2 (one stigma per style) Color: N66D            Dimensions: N/R.        -   Ovary.—Position: Superior Dimensions: Length: 9 to 7 mm            Diameter: 4 to 6 mm.        -   Shape.—Spindled.        -   Color upper.—145B.        -   Color lower.—145C.-   Seed: Not observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘WP08 NIK03’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.